Case against DPR set for hearing
JAKARTA (JP): The civil lawsuit against the House of Representatives' special committee investigating the Bulog (State Logistics Agency) and Brunei scandals, which allegedly involves President Abdurrahman Wahid, is scheduled to be heard beginning Jan. 3 next year at the Central Jakarta District Court, an official said last week.
"The panel of judges will comprise Bambang S. Sriwulan as the presiding judge, Judge Poerwanto and Judge Marni Emy M.
"I have just delivered the summons to the House today (Tuesday)," court clerk Heri told The Jakarta Post.
The summons was received by chairman of the House's special committee Bachtiar Chamsyah.
The plaintiffs, namely Siti Farikha, Aris Junaedi and Masnuh, are linked to the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization, formerly chaired by Abdurrahman.
While Semarang-based businesswoman Siti Farikha has family links with the NU organization, Aris Junaedi is a brother of Arifin Junaidi, a legislator of the National Awakening Party (PKB).
Masnuh is the deputy treasurer at the NU executive board.
The House's special committee is probing the possible involvement of Abdurrahman in the withdrawal of Rp 35 billion belonging to a State Logistics Agency (Bulog) foundation and the misuse of a US$2 million donation from Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Earlier, the plaintiffs' lawyer Sitor Situmorang said none of the special commissions formed by the House were registered with the state secretariat, as required by a 1954 law which stipulates that the establishment of such committees should be listed in the State Gazette.
"The special committee investigating the Bulog and the Brunei scandals is illegal, as it has not been listed in the State Gazette, as required by Law No. 6/1954 on the legislature's right of inquiry," Sitor told reporters.
"Our clients demand that the committee pays each of them Rp 1,000,000,001 -- Rp 1 billion for material losses and Rp 1 for subsidiary losses."
The same charges were also made earlier by the President, who stated that the committee was illegal since it had not been listed in the State Gazette.
Vice President
The House's special committee intends to question Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, after questioning the President and his former masseur Suwondo, to seek clarification.
Bachtiar Chamsyah had said that Megawati would be questioned as she was mentioned in the testimony of former National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo.
He said Rusdihardjo has admitted before the committee that he had handed over a police dossier on the case to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri. (ylt)